vegetables Articles | Dr. Group's Healthy Living Articles

What are Carotenoids? – 5 Health Benefits

By Dr. Edward Group, DC
Updated Sep 18, 2015

Distinguished by their orange, yellow, and red pigments, carotenoids are found in many plants, algae, and bacteria. Carotenoids act as antioxidants within the body, protecting against cellular damage, the effects of aging, and even some chronic diseases. These beneficial compounds cannot be synthesized by humans or animals, diet is the only way to get them. There are well over 600 known carotenoids, with beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and astaxanthin being the most common. Why Are Carotenoids Important? As antioxidants, carotenoids are helpful for protecting vision and combating cellular damage. […]

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Study: Leafy Green Vegetables May Boost Your Immune Defenses

By Dr. Edward Group, DC
Updated Feb 11, 2015

Heated battles have raged across the world’s dinner tables for about as long as anyone can remember. The topic of this unending debate? Vegetables. Despite their most valiant efforts many parents still struggle with their kids about eating their nightly serving of greens. Visiting your local farmers markets, fresher produce and more interesting/flavorful recipes have been helping to slowly turn the tide, but arming yourself with a little extra knowledge before going into battle doesn’t usually hurt either. (more…)

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10 Best Vegan Foods for Kids

By Dr. Edward Group, DC
Updated Jun 23, 2014

Once children start consuming solid food, life-long eating habits begin to take root. What they learn from parents, friends, and others will shape the way they eat. This means that even when a child is young, nutritional education is extremely important for laying the groundwork for their habits and health. And, the evidence is clear, children who consume a nutritious diet at a young age are likely to stick with it and have a greater chance of avoiding health concerns later on in life. There is no question that a […]

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The Health Benefits of Xylanase

By Dr. Edward Group, DC
Updated Jun 19, 2014

Xylanase (pronounced zy-lan-ase) is a naturally-occurring enzyme that can have beneficial impacts on human health and digestion.[1] Fungi and bacteria produce xylanase, and it's produced by insects, crustaceans like snails, and even seeds.[2] Mammals, including humans, do not produce xylanase, but some of our gut bacteria do. Scientifically speaking, it is an enzyme that breaks down xylan, a type of hemicellulose, by cleaving the molecule’s beta 1,4 backbone into a simple sugar called xylose. Xylan is the second most common polysaccharide in nature and is a component of plant cell […]

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The 7 Best Vegetarian Foods for Selenium

By Dr. Edward Group, DC
Updated Apr 14, 2014

Selenium is a powerful trace mineral that everyone requires for good health. Along with iodine, selenium is great for the thyroid. It supports the immune system and it's a powerful antioxidant.[1, 2] Adults require at least 55 micrograms a day and some people consume more (it's best to stay under 400mcg/day).[3] (more…)

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